This refers to the article "In the name of Amma" (BS Weekend, July 5). After winning the Assembly elections in 2011, when the Jayalalithaa government launched schemes for the distribution of free mixers, fans, grinders and laptops to the poor, it was criticised for promoting unproductive, populist measures that were a drain on the exchequer. However, the subsequent launching of Amma canteens, Amma water, Amma salt and Amma pharmacy (selling items at far cheaper prices than the open market) has been welcomed by the people of Tamil Nadu. After all, inflation, the great leveller, does not differentiate among classes. In that sense, these schemes are masterstrokes of the Tamil Nadu chief minister, which could break the cycle of the electoral musical chairs witnessed in the state among the two Dravidian parties.
However, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's resounding victory in the Lok Sabha elections is not only due to these schemes, but also because of the government's work in many other areas - the maintenance of law and order in the state, skilful handling of the Kudankulam protests and the successful commissioning of nuclear power plants, the commissioning of desalination plants (to address drinking water needs), building solar-powered green houses, taking steps to solve the power crisis plaguing the state and so on.
V Jayaraman Chennai
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